General Elections, Non-Presidential Year
General elections in non-presidential years are often called gubernatorial elections, "mid-term," or "off-year" elections. However, there are actually more contests on the ballot than in presidential years. All statewide offices have been on the non-presidential year ballot for four year terms since 1974, when terms were lengthened from the previous two year term.
Changes in recent years include:
- 1970: Last election for Constable and Justice of the Peace
- 1974: Four year terms for statewide elected officials begin
- 1978: Board of Supervisors expands to five members
- 1986: Last separate election for Lieutenant Governor
- 1990: First election with Governor/Lieutenant Governor elected as team
- 2002: Library Trustees no longer on ballot
- 2006: Township officials elected on non-partisan basis
- 2010: First general election year with no September school election
Turnout
Johnson County set a new turnout record in 2018 with 68,262 voters, beating the previous record from 2010 by more than 14,000.
Turnout 1978-2022
(Note: Registration totals from 2010 to present are the active status total going into Election Day, and do not include election day registrations.)
| Date | Registered | Voters | Turnout |
| 11/8/2022 | 90,948 | 64,023 | 70.40% |
| 11/6/2018 | 94,106 | 68,262 | 72.54% |
| 11/4/2014 | 89,532 | 52,959 | 59.15% |
| 11/2/2010 | 92,610 | 53,855 | 58.15% |
| 11/7/2006 | 79,141 | 44,292 | 55.97% |
| 11/5/2002 | 74,256 | 38,900 | 52.97% |
| 11/3/1998 | 62,297 | 34,201 | 54.90% |
| 11/8/1994 | 62,189 | 34,441 | 55.38% |
| 11/6/1990 | 63,189 | 32,885 | 52.05% |
| 11/4/1986 | 55,428 | 26,680 | 48.13% |
| 11/2/1982 | 48,345 | 33,509 | 69.31% |
| 11/7/1978 | 51,773 | 23,516 | 45.42% |
Highest Vote Totals for Candidates
In 2018 County Treasurer Tom Kriz (D) set a new record for most votes in an off-year election, with 56,508 votes in an unopposed race.
Attorney General Tom Miller set a new record for the most votes for a candidate in a contested off-year race with 52,687 votes in 2018, in a two way race with a Libertarian opponent. For races with both a Democrat and a Republican running, Congressman Dave Loebsack set a record in 2018 with 49,010 votes.
Close Elections
The closest race in any general election in Johnson County was the 1978 contest for the Board of Supervisors. Democrat Dennis Langenberg defeated Republican John Dane for the second seat by 11 votes out of 23,516 voters (0.04%)
Harold M. Donnelly (Dem) 12,585 (53.52%)
Dennis J. Langenberg (Dem) 10,889 (46.30%)
H. John Dane Jr. (Rep) 10,878 (46.26%)
scattered write in 21
Most Candidates
Six candidates ran for U.S. Senate in 2014, and six candidates for governor appeared on the ballot in both 1994 and 2010.